Joe R. Lansdale ‘Bumper Crop’ Review

Joe R. Lansdale is a prolific author. His works not only include many novels, but numerous flash fiction, short story, and novella pieces. Bumper Crop is a collection of Lansdale’s shorter works. Billed as a complimentary collection to High Cotton, this book includes many of Lansdale’s personal favorites. Some were commercial successes, but others remain relatively obscure. Moreover, while High Cotton was primarily a collection of Southern Gothic literature, Bumper Crop is a much more eclectic mix. Stories include:

God of the Razor

The Dump

Fish Night

Chompers

The Fat Man

On a Dark October

The Shaggy House

The Man Who Dreamed

Walks

The Last of the Hopeful

Duck Hunt

Down by the Sea near the Great Big Rock

I tell you it’s Love

Pilots (co-authored with Dan Lowry)

In the Cold, Dark Time

Bar Talk

Listen

Personality Problem

A Change of Lifestyle (co-authored with Karen Lansdale)

The Companion (co-authored with Keith and Kasey Joe Lansdale)

Old Charlie

Billie Sue

Bestsellers Guaranteed

Fire Dog

Cowboy

Master of Misery

“God of the Razor” and “Master of Misery” are fairly well known pieces and for good reason. “God of the Razor” is one of the most disturbing pieces ever written. It tells of the tale of a cursed razor and the hunger that consumes those not killed by its cut. “Master of Misery” is a bare-knuckle fight to the death between two men. This may make it seem similar to “The Pit,” featured in High Cotton, however, the moral themes and back drop could not put the two pieces further apart.

Other tales, such as “Fire Dog” and “Fish Night,” are less well known. They deliver the trademark social commentary and wit Lansdale is famous for in unexpected ways. “Fire Dog” is about a man who gets a job acting as a dog for the local fire department. It is a good job for nine years, until they get a replacement. Nobody wants an old dog. In “Fish Night,” traveling salesman are stranded in the Arizona desert. There they are visited by the ghosts of an age long gone. The elder salesman yearns for that simpler time, until he learns what it really means to “sleep with the fishes.”

While all of the tales have been previously published. Most are long out of print. For the first time, every story includes an author introduction. These introductions serve to provide the readers with Lansdale’s thoughts during the writing process, as well as, the struggles to get the pieces accepted. It is a godsend for beginning authors to know that such a literary great went through similar frustrations.

Bumper Crop is a must read for fans of Joe R. Lansdale. While the tales in the collection are less well-known than those featured in High Cotton, they are every bit as memorable and deserving of praise.

3 Comments on Joe R. Lansdale ‘Bumper Crop’ Review

Matt, I purchased Bumper Crop because of the short story, Master of Misery. I couldn’t find it anywhere else. For a really large collection of short fiction by Joe, check out Bleeding Shadows. Subterranean Press published both the hardcover and trade paperback.

I’ve never been as big a fan of Lansdale’s short stories and I get a bit frustrated when so many collections repeat the same stories. That’s sort of what makes this one and High Cotton so valuable. Unless you’re rabid collector, this is all you need for his short work.

Thanks guys for the comments. Wayne, I will check out Bleeding Shadows. I have not heard of that collection.

My favorite short story by Lansdale is the classic “Night They Missed the Horror Show,” but I also get that it is probably a little cliché to say that is my favorite. It was the first story in Splatter Punks. As a result of that book, I fell in love with the subgenre. Of course Splatter Punks is out of print, but you can get it in High Cotton today.

I agree Dr. Humpp on a lot the same stories appearing in different collections. it is buyer beware for certain, but I don’t think it is just Joe Lansdale who is guilty of it. In general, I like shorter works. So I buy tons of collections and anthologies. A lot of authors get as much as they can out of a story if it is successful.